Aptera ushers in the Launch Edition of its sun-powered car

Startup firm Aptera continues working on its all-electric tricycle with a record-high range on a charge. The latest video unveils the car that will go on sale on the launch date (to be announced).

The Aptera Launch Edition comes loaded with numerous solar elements built into its roof, hood, trunk, and front fascia. On a clear summer day, drivers can expect up to 60 km (37 miles) of free range per day. The company believes it will be enough for most use cases, since the average American drives less per day.

A charging port is provided for the cloudy days. An hour of charging from a standard 240V wall socket will replenish enough juice for nearly 60 miles, or 100 kilometers, of driving.

With the battery pack maxed out, the Launch Edition is rated for 644 km (400 miles) of range. It needs four seconds for a sprint from zero to 97 km/h (60 mph) and maxes out at 163 km/h (101 mph).

The top Aptera spec that remains to be released in the future will be good for ~1,600 km (1,000 miles) on a sunny day, the company claims.